Americans Marching on Mexico City.

(The Americas Press Agency, March 29, 2006)

Thousands of Americans residents in Mexico marched on Mexico City; and
hundreds more marched on other Latin American capitals to protest what
they perceive to be the unfair treatment they have been receiving in
those countries.

"We cannot work here", complained John Smith, a resident of
Tijuana. "They tell me: "Mexico is supposed to be for Mexicans."
"I have applied for many jobs here, at restaurants, and also at
factories. I have run out of my savings and explained to them that I
had a family to feed. They were laughing at me and showed me the door.
They said that non-citizens were not eligible to work here. "You are
not a Mexican", they said. The owner of the factory got angry at me
and screamed on top of his voice- "Yankee, go home"!

Jane Johnson, a long time resident in San Juan Costa Rica, has lost her
job with the American company where she had been working for the past
four years. She had been trying to find work with the local company,
but was told that "All the opportunities in our country are for Ticos
(Costa Ricans)", and that "Americans are not eligible to work
here", "We do not hire foreigners!" "What will I do?"
complained Jane, "I have no money and I must go back to my country.
These people are racist. They won't give me a job. Not even one of
them".

Steven Jefferson, a resident in Guatemala City has complained that when
he went to the local hospital he was not able to get free treatment
there. "They said that I actually had to pay for the medical exam.
That is preposterous! I deserve free medical treatment! And how come
nobody speaks English here and there are no signs and brochures in
English? English is the language of the world! How come these people do
not speak it?"

Many Americans were carrying star-spangles banners and singing "Oh,
say can you see..."

Police with dogs and water cannon, aided by the local immigration
officials with batons and night sticks started dispersing the
demonstrators. There were army trucks nearby and riot troops were
called in. The protests attracted crowds of angry local onlookers many
of whom were chanting "Gringos! Go back to your country!" Some
members of the crowd grabbed the American flags that the protesters
were carrying and started stomping on them. Many hit the Americans
while shouting "You accursed Yankees, get out of our country!" at
them.

Robert Ferguson, an American resident in another Latin American city
had this to say: "When I came here with money and stayed at five-star
hotels, they were treating me so nicely, and everybody was so friendly
to me and respectful and all that. I had dates with beautiful ladies. I
was like a king here. When I ran out of money, the people turned into
devils. The smiles just disappeared. They are treating me like a dog
now. Nobody will give me a job. I have been to hundreds of places.
Here, if your last name is not Gomez, Lopez, or Rodriguez, you cannot
work anywhere. Nobody will even consider you. They do not want a poor
American, a poor foreigner to be a burden on their economy. They are so
nationalistic and racist! What can I do? I am starving. Please,
American Embassy, take me home! Somebody, please help! You can send me
money by Western Union".

Jose Rodriguez, a Mexican citizen, has commented- "They come to our
country and they want jobs? But this is our country. They have no right
to be here. They are only guests here. Yankees, go back home! We
don't want you here! Come with money or get out! We do not need a
poor Gringo competing with the locals! "Mexico is para los
Mexicanos!" Viva Mexico!"

Col. Jorge Perez of the local anti-riot forces had this to say:
"We're going to get every one of these darn Gringo foreigners, and
deport them within days. The ones that survive our jails and torture
chambers, that is. We do not like to release cripples; it makes our
country look bad. We, Latin Americans, are nice people if you are rich,
but don't you dare come here and look for work! We don't like
indigents. And also, if you overstay your visa and are in the country
illegally we have special treatment for you. It will make the Spanish
Inquisition look like kids camp".

Many arrests were made and reports of beatings, vicious canine attacks,
torture in police dungeons and deportations have reached the US
embassy. The American Ambassador had this comment: 'They are
racists! They do not want to give our citizens jobs. We are friends and
good neighbors. Why are they doing it? We, Gringos, are so nice to
them. We give them all these factory jobs and then amnesty. I will
lodge a protest with the United Nations tomorrow!"

Several Americans, severely beaten and chased by angry Latin American
citizens and policemen were banging on the US Embassy's doors
screaming "Help! They are going to kills us! Help!"

James Brown, a US worker who had the audacity to look for a job in
Mexico barely escaped an attack by two German shepherds unleashed on
him by the Mexican police and was now recuperating inside the Embassy
compound. "I am an American", he complained. "Mexico is in the
Americas just like our country. They are a nation of immigrants, too.
The Indians are originally from Siberia and then, the Spanish are from
Europe. There are so many people here whose origins are from other
countries; people whose ancestors are Portuguese and French. And
Vicente Fox has an English name. I have an uncle whose last name is
Fox. We do not want much here. We just want to work and build this
country and send some money from here to the US. The ladies are so
beautiful, and if you have a little bit of money, the people are so
friendly. So, I just want to work and live here. What's wrong with
that? But they beat me so bad and they have tortured me. They said
that if I did not pay a bribe, they would not release me. I had ten
dollars and I gave it to them. They let me out, but had set two vicious
mutts on me and they were chasing me all the way to the Embassy. It is
all about fairness. Mexicans come to our country to work. So, we want
to go to their country to work. We want to live in Mexico, make money,
have kids and also, get some medical care. Is that too much to ask
for?"

Some people have also reportedly demonstrated in several American
cities in front of the consulates of Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica
chanting: "Racists! Racists! Human rights for Gringos! Human rights
for Americans!", but there has been little press coverage of the
event.

Reported by Jose Smith in Mexico City
and John Rodriguez in San Jose, Costa Rica.